Following on from their crucially acclaimed self-titled debut, Canadian noise rock heroes METZ are on the eve of releasing their aptly titled sophomore record II (out May 1st via Inertia).
Written and recorded in 2014, after two years of constant touring behind their rightly adored self-titled debut, II is METZ at their most true to form—as pure an expression of what they do as can currently be committed to tape.
Featuring the highlights ‘Acetate’, and ‘The Swimmer’ the album was recorded at various studios throughout Ontario, Canada, and produced and mixed by the band with assistance from returning engineer Graham Walsh. The trio have produced an LP uncompromising in its ferocity and creative integrity.
Ahead of the LP release, we chatted to the guys about some of the albums that changed their lives, check them out below and pop by here to pre-order the album.
Minor Threat – Out Of Step
1983, Dischord
When did you discover this record? “Late at night on college radio. I would listen religously to college punk shows and tape them. Thank you CKCU and CHUO in Ottawa!”
“Minor Threat were my first taste of hardcore music and I think they are still the best to ever do it (Bad Brains, Black Flag close behind). Fugazi was also a huge influence which obviously came after. I was immediately hooked and began going to shows downtown.
I met all of my best friends through punk music, including Hayden and we eventually started METZ. Hearing music with that power and conviction changed my life in a very literal sense. I changed as a person and I’m still in love with the music.” – Chris
Hoover – The Lurid Traversal of Route 7
1994, Dischord
“I heard this from one of my older brothers. Probably about 1993.
He had a copy on CD or cassette, and we worked night shift at the local grocery store together as well. We would take turns listening to that album while we stocked shelves from 10:30pm to 7:30am.
It’s pretty important to me for nostalgic reasons, but mostly because it was a sharp turn in the road of discovering punk music. It offered something completely different and was an influence of a growing scene in Ottawa that wasn’t just about bands playing fast and loud at all times. I loved loud heavy music, but this had that, and more! It was really exciting to hear sounds that had intensity, aggression, but also patience, and finesse.
They had an incredible combination of jazz rhythms and bass grooves within these intelligently crafted heavy, feedback laced post punk songs. Those motherfuckers could play. It made me think differently about punk music and playing drums.” – Hayden
Devo – Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
1978, Warner Bros.
When did you discover this record “At the end of grade eight when I was about 11-12.”
“It was a crooked version of all the rock and roll music I had heard coming from my sister’s rooms.
Had big hooks and weird instrumentation. Stuck with me for life.” – Chris
Drive Like Jehu – Yank Crime
1994, Interscope/ Swami Records
“Drive like Jehu and a handfull of other bands (Brainiac, Six Finger Satelitte, Jawbox, Jesus Lizard) all changed how I thought about guitar playing.
I started to get really into dissonance and ‘angular’ guitar playing.
These bands were clearly not playing power chords and it got me stoked!” – Alex
Sonic Youth – Goo
1990, DGC
“I was late to the game with Sonic Youth. I was completely preoccupied with hardcore/punk at the time. Sonic Youth were really popular and I heard them everywhere but never really got into it.
I had a bad habit of immediately writing-off anything that was popular. For that same idiotic reason, I didn’t listen to any of the “grunge” bands except for Melvins and Butthole Surfers until much later. Now, looking back, I see the error in my ways and I consider Sonic Youth maybe my favourite or at least most listened to band.
They are just endlessly interesting to me. The guitar tunings, the way they compose and arrange their songs is like no one else. I love Goo the most because it is a combination of weird and poppy that totally works.” – Alex
Born Against – Nine Patriotic Hymns For Children
1991, Vermiform
“I heard this record coming from my brother’s room when I was in high school. I also heard my parents’ voices telling him to turn it off shortly after.
This one is special because it was exactly what I wanted to hear at the time. It was dirty. It was scrappy. This band WAS “fuck you”. It was so much of an important record at the time, that my brother and I briefly named the band we were trying to form, “nine years later”. We didn’t keep the name, but I still have the LP.” -Hayden
METZ’s LP II is out Friday the 1st May (pre-order)
